Boxing Federation of India Elections: President Suspends Key Officials Over Financial Misconduct

Suspension of BFI Officials Amid Financial Scandal

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) elections have taken a dramatic turn as President Ajay Singh has suspended Secretary General Hemanta Kalita and Treasurer Digvijay Singh due to financial misconduct allegations.

This decision follows an inquiry led by retired Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain, which concluded that both officials misappropriated funds through fraudulent billing practices related to ambulances, hotel accommodations, and other services.

Notably, Digvijay is currently contesting for the Secretary General position, while Kalita's nomination has been rejected by the Returning Officer due to his completion of two terms in the executive committee.

The inquiry was initiated in January after the Sports Authority of India (SAI) raised concerns based on a complaint from Kuldeep Sharma, which accused BFI officials of financial irregularities linked to a talent hunt event held in Guwahati in September 2024.

During the inquiry, both Kalita and Digvijay failed to appear, but they criticized the establishment of a one-man inquiry committee as arbitrary and unilateral.

This suspension has reportedly strained relations within the BFI, with Kalita and Digvijay now collaborating to remove Ajay Singh from his position.

The suspension letter issued by the BFI president prohibits both officials from exercising their official duties.

In the letter, the president stated, 'Justice Jain has completed his investigation and submitted a report that found both of you guilty of serious financial misconduct and mismanagement. The report highlights a clear violation of the fiduciary duties expected from individuals in your positions.'

He further emphasized the need for integrity and transparency within the Federation's operations, leading to the immediate suspension of both officials from their roles.

The report, which has been forwarded to the sports ministry and SAI, confirms that both Digvijay and Kalita engaged in mismanagement.

Kalita allegedly awarded tender rights to Avani Events for the talent hunt, despite the agency lacking relevant experience in multinational training camps. He also issued work orders without adhering to the proper tender process and prepared initial service quotations without consulting the BFI's finance committee. Additionally, Justice Jain discovered that Kalita inflated the number of qualified technical officials in various training programs, with at least ten individuals receiving payments without meeting the necessary qualifications.

Moreover, Kalita has been accused of billing the BFI for a personal trip to Delhi, and both officials have been found guilty of unauthorized foreign currency withdrawals during official international trips.